Apple has just announced that it will be replacing defective battery packs for a number of iPhone 5 handsets free of charge.The tech giant clarified, that the said defects only occur in a small number of iPhone 5 units which were likely released sometime between September of 2012 and January of 2013.

The tech titan has also set up a dedicated web page for iPhone 5 battery replacements to make it easier for users to verify if their handsets are defective. The website allows users to enter their device's serial number and match it against a database of iPhone 5 serials that are believed to have defective battery packs.

Once their handset is verified as one of the iPhone 5 handsets with battery defects, consumers may proceed to the nearest Apple authorized service center. Defective iPhone 5 owners with no physical access to Apple's service centers may also seek assistance from Apple's technical support service group, where they can remotely have it replaced.

Apple's iPhone 5 battery replacement program does not come as a surprise as some iPhone 5 users have long been complaining about the handset's very short-lived battery life. Reports claim that affected iPhone 5 handsets were also found to have been having problems recharging.

The battery replacement program is, as the name indicates, is only battery-specific, so Apple warns that damaged handsets such as those with broken or cracked screens may hinder battery replacements and therefore recommend repair services before having their batteries replaced.

Apple's battery replacement program for the iPhone 5 is currently ongoing, both in China and in the US, and is expected to commence August 29 in all other countries.